Impeoved fabric foe hats and bonnets



TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

guitar: 'tatrs gaunt @ffirz.

IMPROVED FABRIC FOR HATS AND BONNETS.

SPEOTFIOA'IION.

Be it known that I, EiJWIN COPLESTON, of Wrentham, in the county of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful improvement in Hats and Bonnets, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and make use of the same: i

This invention relates to a new and improved method of manufacturing hats and bonnets, and consists in making the hat or bonnet by flocking upon a foundation or body formed of buckram or other suitable fabric,

which is pressed into the desired shape with hot dies, by which means I produce a light, elastic, and durable;

article of any desired color, much cheaper and more beautiful than hats or bonnets made of felt.

When the foundation of the hat or bonnet has been formed by pressing single or double sheets of buckram, or other suitable material, into the desired shape between hot dies, in the ordinary way, I spread upon the surface, with a stiff brush and knife, or other suitable tool, a coating of a gummy, adhesive compound or cement,

composed of boiled linseed oil and white lead united in such proportions as to form a thick paste. While the mixture thus applied is still wet I sprinkle fine flock upon it with aperforated box or sifter, in the usual way of flocking, until the surface of the foundation is Well covered with the flock. The foundation of the hat or bonnet, after having been thus prepared, is hung up in a hot room to dry, and when dried thoroughly the surface is rnbbed down with sand-paper to make it even and smooth. I then apply another adhesive mixture or compound, consisting of copal varnish, zinc drier, and boiled linseed oil, in equal parts; to which is'added white lead to bring the compound to the consistency of thin paint, which is then applied with a brush over the flocked surface of the foundation. While this second application is still wet the surface is again covered with flock, sprinkled upon it as before. The flocked surface is then carefully pressed with a soft, elastic pad, by bearing upon it gently, but firmly, so as not to allow the pad to slip or rub sidewise. The pad I employ for this purpose is a piece of sponge covered with felt cloth. After pressing,' and shaking ofi' any loose flock, I then sprinkle the surface with flock again and press as before. The hat or bonnet is then again thoroughly dried in a hot room, and when dry .is finished by brushing it carefully with a ,soft brush.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I claim as a new article of manufacture, hats or bonnets made by flocking upon the surface of a foundation or body of buckram or other suitable fabric, substantially as herein described.

EDWIN GOPLESTON.

Witnesses:

Ones. J. RANDALL, MARIA RANDALL. 

